In women with valvular heart disease, pregnancy-associated cardiovascular
changes can contribute to maternal, foetal and neonatal
complications. Ideally, a woman with valvular heart disease should
receive preconception assessment and counselling from a cardiologist
with expertise in pregnancy. For women with moderate- and highrisk
valve lesions, appropriate risk stratification and management
during pregnancy will optimise outcomes. Pregnancy in women with
high-risk lesions, such as severe aortic stenosis, severe mitral stenosis
and those with mechanical valves, requires careful planning and coordination
of antenatal care by a multidisciplinary team. The purpose
of this overviewis to describe the expected haemodynamic changesin
pregnancy, review pregnancy risks for women with valvular heart
disease and discuss strategies for management